Walla Brook was four times its normal width when Charlotte fell in

Walla Brook was four times its normal width when Charlotte fell in

No one will be charged over the death of a girl who died during training for the annual Ten Tors challenge three years ago.

Charlotte Shaw, 14, died after falling into Walla Brook on Dartmoor, which was in spate at the time. An inquest was halted in December when coroner Elizabeth Earland decided testimony could have led to criminal charges.

But the Crown Prosecution Service has decided there is not enough evidence for anyone from Charlotte’s school, Kingsley College – at the time called Edgehill College – to be charged with manslaughter.

The student was with a group practising for the Ten Tors event when they encountered difficulties crossing the swollen brook. She died when she slipped while throwing one of her schoolmates across the stream, and fell into the water. A post-mortem examination found she died of cardiac arrest in the water.

Evidence given by fellow students at the inquest conflicted with earlier statements to police. It was claimed that some of the participants had ‘begged’ teachers to halt the venture.

Charles Hattersley of Ashfords solicitors, acting on behalf of Charlotte’s mother Jennifer Wilkin-Shaw, told thisisdevon.co.uk he was pleased that the CPS had reached a decision.

He said: “No-one wanted criminal proceedings per se. It came as a bit of a surprise to most of us in the legal team when the coroner referred the case back to the CPS.”

However, a civil case over Charlotte’s death is expected to continue.

In January, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced it would not mount an investigation into Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s conduct after Charlotte’s death.

The police force voluntarily referred the matter to the IPCC.